U&Drama

U&Drama is a British free-to-air television channel operated within the UKTV network. The service is primarily dedicated to drama programming, with a secondary emphasis on comedy and science-fiction titles. Its schedule is built around British television drama from several decades, combining familiar library programmes with newer acquisitions and selected series made for or associated with BBC and other British broadcasters. The channel is available principally in the United Kingdom and, through selected distribution arrangements, Ireland. The service began broadcasting on 8 July 2013 under the name Drama, replacing UKTV's Blighty channel. Its launch formed part of UKTV's effort to reorganise its portfolio around more clearly defined channel identities. At launch, the channel occupied Freeview channel 20, while its Sky distribution initially used channel 291. On 24 July 2013, it moved on Sky to channel 166, a position acquired from PBS America, and it subsequently launched on Virgin Media on 14 August 2013. These distribution changes helped establish the channel as a broadly available destination for UK television drama rather than a narrowly targeted subscription service. U&Drama's editorial identity centres on recognisable British drama, especially programmes with an established audience and repeat-viewing value. Its catalogue has included period drama, crime and detective stories, historical series, literary adaptations and long-running popular television. Examples associated with the channel include Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, The Cinder Path, Cranford, Lark Rise to Candleford, Pride and Prejudice, Sharpe and Tipping the Velvet. The channel has also carried selected BBC daytime drama series in prominent evening slots, including Father Brown. Sister Boniface Mysteries, a period detective series centred on a Catholic nun, has been notable as a series that debuted as a free-to-air programme on Drama after being produced through a BBC Studios and BritBox North America-related arrangement rather than first receiving a BBC One transmission. Comedy also forms part of the schedule, particularly in early-evening and teatime programming. In 2024, the channel was repeating established British sitcoms and comedy series such as Last of the Summer Wine, Keeping Up Appearances and Birds of a Feather. This mixture of drama, comedy and genre programming gives U&Drama a broad archive-oriented proposition while preserving drama as its central brand promise. The channel has been distributed through several related services. U&Drama HD is a higher-resolution version available through Virgin Media. The U&Drama +1 service, originally branded Drama +1, provides a one-hour timeshift of the main channel. It launched on Sky and Virgin Media on 16 September 2019, later taking over the Freeview position formerly used by CCXTV on 1 February 2021. Changes to Freeview channel allocations subsequently moved the timeshift service, including a move to channel 60 on 28 March 2022 as part of a wider UKTV reshuffle. On 16 July 2024, the main channel was rebranded from Drama to U&Drama. The change aligned the service with UKTV's broader U& brand architecture while retaining its established programming focus. The rebrand did not represent a change of subject or a move away from drama-led scheduling; rather, it placed the established channel identity within UKTV's newer naming system. U&Drama therefore remains an active UK television channel whose value proposition is based on accessible, repeatable British drama and related archive entertainment.

U&Drama originated as Drama, a UKTV television channel launched on 8 July 2013. The service replaced Blighty and was created as a free-to-air channel with a clear editorial focus on drama programming. Its launch reflected UKTV's broader approach of organising its network around recognisable genres and audience propositions. Rather than operating as a general entertainment service, Drama was designed to give British drama a dedicated destination, while retaining limited space for comedy and science-fiction programmes. At launch, Drama was placed on Freeview channel 20. It also entered the Sky platform, initially appearing on channel 291 in the overspill area of the entertainment section. On 24 July 2013, the channel moved to Sky channel 166 after acquiring the slot previously used by PBS America. It was added to Virgin Media on 14 August 2013 on channel 190. These early distribution developments gave the new service a presence across the major UK television platforms. In September 2014, UKTV associated the channel with a reported seven percent decline in profits, an indication that the economics of launching and operating the service were being assessed within the wider network portfolio. Drama's programming strategy relied heavily on recognisable British television. Its schedule drew on library titles and repeatable series spanning period drama, crime, historical storytelling, literary adaptations and popular long-running programmes. Programmes associated with the channel included Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, The Cinder Path, Cranford, Lark Rise to Candleford, Pride and Prejudice, Sharpe and Tipping the Velvet. This catalogue positioned the service as a home for viewers seeking familiar British drama rather than as a channel built primarily around first-run international imports. The channel also developed a role for more recent British television acquisitions. BBC One daytime drama series, including Father Brown, were given prominent evening exposure on Drama. Father Brown became associated with an 8 p.m. Friday slot and helped demonstrate how a free-to-air archive-oriented channel could use relatively recent series alongside older classics. The related series Sister Boniface Mysteries was also notable in the channel's schedule. It is a period detective programme centred on a Catholic nun and was produced through a BBC Studios and BritBox North America-related co-production arrangement. Its direct free-to-air debut on Drama gave the channel a stronger role in introducing selected newer drama to its audience. Although drama remained the defining genre, the service maintained a supporting comedy and genre strand. Classic sitcoms and comedies such as Last of the Summer Wine, Keeping Up Appearances and Birds of a Feather appeared in teatime and early-evening scheduling. This broadened the channel's appeal without displacing its core drama identity. The result was a schedule built around British television heritage, with drama as the principal organising idea and comedy as a complementary source of repeat viewing. UKTV subsequently expanded the brand through additional services. A high-definition version, U&Drama HD, became available through Virgin Media. The timeshift service Drama +1 launched on Sky and Virgin Media on 16 September 2019. On 1 February 2021, the timeshift service took over the Freeview slot previously used by CCXTV after that service ended transmission. Later Freeview numbering changes affected its position: after BBC Three returned to Freeview in February 2022, Drama +1 moved from channel 74 to channel 60 on 28 March 2022 as UKTV reorganised its channel capacity and placed W in the relevant slot. The most significant recent change was the 16 July 2024 rebrand from Drama to U&Drama. The new name brought the channel into UKTV's U& brand family. The rebrand preserved the channel's underlying purpose and programming heritage while giving it a more consistent relationship with other U& services. U&Drama remains a UKTV free-to-air channel available principally in the United Kingdom, with distribution also extending to Ireland through platform arrangements. Its continuing proposition is a curated selection of British drama, supported by classic comedy, genre titles, high-definition distribution and a one-hour timeshift service.

• 2024

  Drama rebrands as U&Drama

  [1]U&Dramaen.wikipedia.org

  The channel adopted the U&Drama name on 16 July, aligning with UKTV's U& brand architecture.

• 2022

  Freeview position changes

  [1]U&Dramaen.wikipedia.org

  Drama +1 moved to Freeview channel 60 as part of subsequent channel-number and capacity changes.

• 2021

  Drama +1 takes over a Freeview slot

  [1]U&Dramaen.wikipedia.org

  Drama +1 moved into the Freeview position previously occupied by CCXTV after CCXTV ceased transmission.

• 2019

  Drama +1 launches

  [1]U&Dramaen.wikipedia.org

  The brand introduced a one-hour timeshift channel on Sky and Virgin Media.

• 2018

  Irish distribution expands

  [1]U&Dramaen.wikipedia.org

  Drama became available on Virgin Media Ireland alongside Really.

• 2013

  Drama launches on Freeview

  [1]U&Dramaen.wikipedia.org

  UKTV launched Drama on 8 July as a replacement for Blighty, with the new free-to-air service focused on drama programming.

• 2013

  Sky and Virgin Media distribution established

  [1]U&Dramaen.wikipedia.org

  The channel moved to Sky channel 166 on 24 July and launched on Virgin Media on 14 August.

A free-to-air destination for British drama, combining established television classics, period and crime drama, selected newer acquisitions and a supporting schedule of classic comedy and genre programming.

• Free-to-air television channel · 2013

  U&Drama

  The main UKTV channel, launched as Drama in 2013 and renamed U&Drama in 2024. It is centred on British drama from different periods, including crime, historical, literary and period programming, while also carrying selected comedy, science-fiction and newer acquired series.

• HD television channel

  U&Drama HD

  A higher-resolution version of the U&Drama service available through Virgin Media. It provides the channel's programming in an HD distribution format.

• Timeshift television channel · 2019

  U&Drama +1

  The brand's one-hour timeshift service, originally known as Drama +1. It launched on Sky and Virgin Media in 2019 and later received Freeview distribution, allowing viewers to watch the main schedule one hour later.

• 2024

  Align the channel with the U& brand familyStrategy

  Background

  UKTV adopted a broader U& naming structure for parts of its channel portfolio.

  Action taken

  Drama was rebranded U&Drama on 16 July 2024 while retaining its drama-led programming identity.

  Aftermath

  The service continued operating as an active UKTV channel under the U&Drama name.

  Source

• 2019

  Introduce a one-hour timeshift serviceProduct launch

  Background

  UKTV extended the Drama proposition to provide a delayed viewing option on major pay-TV platforms.

  Action taken

  Drama +1 launched on Sky and Virgin Media on 16 September 2019.

  Aftermath

  The timeshift service later expanded to Freeview and underwent further channel-position changes.

  Source

• 2013

  Launch a dedicated free-to-air drama channelProduct launch

  Background

  UKTV replaced the Blighty service with a channel designed around a clearer drama-focused editorial proposition.

  Action taken

  Drama launched on 8 July 2013 and was distributed through Freeview, Sky and subsequently Virgin Media.

  Aftermath

  The channel became a UKTV destination for British drama, archive programming and selected newer acquisitions.

  Source

1. 1U&Dramaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2U&Drama official websitedrama.uktv.co.uk